Our ratings are...
Fully Accessible - You can access all of the attraction, with no problem, in any type of wheelchair.
Mostly Accessible - You can access most of the attraction, and all of the important parts of it, with your wheelchair.
Partially Accessible - You can access a good deal of the attraction but some parts are inaccessible and some important parts you'll miss.
Inaccessible - Kind of speaks for itself, avoid if you're in a wheelchair.
We have done an accessible attractions guide to the Motherlode before and now we're expanding on that list.
What most people know as the Gold Country in California runs along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains along highway 49 from Oakhurst in the south to Loyalton (America's Loneliest City) in the north.
Here are our ratings on various attractions, running from north to south. Do note that you'll need your own transportation here as accessible public transport is slim to non-existent in this region.
Empire Mine State Park, Grass Valley - Partially Accessible. You will see quite a lot here, including a cool mirror rigged to give wheelchair riders a great view down the main mine shaft, but some important bits...like the owners "cottage" and upstairs of the Administration building...are only reached via stairs.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Coloma - Fully Accessible. Gaze upon the exact spot that James Marshall bent over to pick up a few gold nuggets next to John Sutter's sawmill on the America River, thus changing the history of California and the United States forever. A real must-see on a tour of the Motherlode.
Gold Bug Park and Mine, Placerville - Fully Accessible. Let that sink in a little..."fully accessible"...the only historic gold mine in California that we've found that can make that distinction. Wheelchairs can access and explore the underground mine with no problems.
Knight Foundry, Sutter Creek - Fully Accessible. Once a month on a Saturday, tours are offered of this old, water-powered industrial complex that provided machined parts for the area's mines.
Kennedy Gold Mine, Jackson - Mostly Accessible. Only surface tours are offered of what was the deepest gold mine in the United States (over a mile deep) and you won't be able to explore an adjacent trail.
Shenandoah Valley Wine Country, Plymouth - Fully Accessible. What was once California's largest and premiere wine area still produces great vintages at over 40 wineries. Maps are available at Amador Vintners Association and Blue Mountain Transit offers wheelchair-accessible wine tours of the area.
Amador Central Railroad Speeder Tours, Ione - Inaccessible
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Arnold - Mostly Accessible. Great mile-plus accessible trail through a grove of the largest living things on earth, Giant Sequoia trees.
Mark Twain Cabin, Tuttletown - Fully Accessible. A small, recreated cabin (the chimney is original) where Samuel Clemens lived for a year in his life while living in the Gold Country that inspired so many stories. Just a quick stop to look at, no one can go inside but a nice little piece of history a mile up a bumpy road from highway 49.
Columbia State Historic Park - Mostly Accessible. Preserved Gold Rush era town with a lot of shops and a few attractions. Gold panning is wheelchair accessible and there's even an old hotel here with an accessible room with a roll-in shower.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown - Mostly Accessible. Historic train yard turned into a museum. Many movies and TV shows where filmed here including "Petticoat Junction" and "Back to the Future." Train rides are offered and are accessible with advance notice.
Hornitos - Mostly Accessible. Well preserved, almost ghost town and cemetery to explore.
California State Mining and Mineral Museum, Mariposa - Fully Accessible. Much gold, gems, and minerals on display here at the museum dedicated to the products and history of California's mines.
(NOTE: The Independence Trail in Nevada City should make this list as a great, wheelchair accessible trail but it is closed indefinitely due to fire damage - Ed)
Darryl Musick
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